labeled heretics. From Syria and Persia, Nestorian missionaries penetrated into Central Asia and China by the 7th century

Church in India

Mar ThomaToday, the Indian state of Kerala has some 7 million â€œThomas Christians,â€ divided among Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions

Justin Martyr

(100-165)-headed a Christian school in Rome

Writings of Justin Martyr

First and Second ApologiesDialogue with Trypho the Jew

Theophilus

(late 2nd cent.) â€“ Bishop of Antioch

Writings of Theophilus

Apology-its purpose was to set before the pagan world the Christian idea of God and the superiority of the doctrine of Creation over the immoral myths of the Olympian religion.

Athenagoras

(late 2nd cent.)-â€œThe Christian philosopher of Athens

Writings of Athenagoras

Supplicationâ€”addressed to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus to try to gain an audience with the emperor when he passed through Athens, sought to rebut current charges against the Christians: Atheism, incest and cannibalism.

Before 250 persecution

mainly local, sporadic, and more often the result of mob action or accusations made for economic gain than the result of definite civil policy

â€œthe blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.â€

Tertullian

Christians were a perceived threat to Rome because (6)

a. they claimed that their religion was the only true oneb. Christianity had a universal appeal that threatened the universal sovereignty of Rome.c. Christians were aggressive proselytizers.d. Christians refused to worship Emperore. Christians were aloof from societyâ€”games, festivals.f. they met in secret and so were accused of cannibalism, atheism and sexual misconduct. (kiss of peace)(brother/sister).

a. Millennial celebration â€“ sparks a revival in the gods.b. Decius wants to root out the church.c. Had to sacrifice to gods-receive Libbliid. What to do with Christian who sacrificed to gods?

2. Diocletion Persecution (303-311)

a. â€œVicar of Jupitarâ€b. wanted to reinstate gods to bring back glory to Rome.c. Four edicts:1. all churches destroyed2. all Bible burned3. all public office and civil rights deprived to Christians4. all had to sacrifice to gods.d. the number of apostates and martyrs is very great.

Results of Persecution

1.Their witness gains the admiration of the people.2.Penitential system begins3.cult of saints and martyrs.4.The last persecution is revelation of size of church â€“ Constantine â€“Edict of Milan in 313AD recognizing Christianity as a legal religion

second great epidemic (Date)

around 260,

Examples of Christian Love and Character

1. No distinction between Christians and other men2. Height of 2nd Epidemic love to sick3. Emperor Julian campaign to match Xn charity4. Prohibited all forms of infanticide and abortion5. Rejected double standard for sex.

Gnosticism: Main teachers

Valentinus, Basilides and Marcion

Gnosis

revealed knowledge of God and origin and destiny of mankind which the spiritual element in man could receive redemptionone journeys from the material realm to the spiritual realm

Sources of Gnosis:

a. Secret tradition from Apostlesb. Direct revelation to the founder of Gnostic sectc. The Bibled. Jesus

Gnosticism Cosmology

a. Demiurgeb. The demiurge created a world imperfectc. the spiritual element to be rescued from the evil material d.Sets dualistic system.

Gnosticism understanding of Christ

a. Christ brought the gnosis from the Supreme God.b. Christ either assumed the body of the man Jesus, or was docetic.

Gnosticism AnthropologyThree types of men:

1. Spiritual-only the â€œspiritual menâ€ are given the gnosis2. Psychicsâ€”(Christians are a part of this group) will go to lower realm of pleroma.3. Fleshlyâ€”the rest of humanity is unspiritual and is destined to eternal perdition.

Principle anti-Gnostic writers

Irenaeus and Tertullian

Gnostic brought clear definitions of these 5

1.Doctrine of God2.Doctrine of Man3.Doctrine of Person of Christ4.Doctrine of Redemption5.Doctrine of Authority

Marcion date

140 AD

Marcion view of OT & NT

the law and the gospel, are absolutely distinct.

Marcion heretical points

1.Two Gods2.NT & OT are absolutely distinct3.Christ did not defile himself with the body of the demiurge, but assumed an apparent body.

Marcionâ€™s N.T

revised Gospel of Luke and ten emended letters of Paul

Marcionite controversy led to 2 doctrines

the Creator and the Redeemer are the same God, and that in God justice and mercy are combined.

Rule of Faith

The Rule was a summary of the teaching presented

Council of Nicea Date

325AD

Heresy that provoked Council of Nicea

Arianism

Arianism definition

states that Jesus Christ was not true God and that he had an entirely different nature, neither eternal nor omnipotent. He was a lesser god or being, not the eternal and changeless God.appealed to the Gnostic

Major opponents against Arianism

Bishop Alexander, Athanasius

Friend of Arius

Eusebius of Nicomedia

Result of Council of Nicea

a.Logos to Sonb.â€œOnly-begottenâ€ not adoptedc.â€œlife from lifeâ€ to â€œtrue God from true God.â€d.â€œcame downâ€ is added.e.â€œwas made manâ€ â€“Christ is true man, true God.

Christians do not attend the shows Christians responsibility for the poorModest attire is required

Catechetical School leaders in 3rd century at Alexandria

Clement and Origen

who wrote -â€œâ€¦philosophy was given to the Greeks directly and primarily, till the Lord should call the Greeks. For this was a schoolmaster to bring â€˜the Hellenic mind,â€ as the law, the Hebrews, â€œto Christ.â€

Clement

(Apostolic Father) Clement, Bishop of __________

Rome

â€œthe bishop is nothing less than Godâ€™s representative to the congregation.â€ â€œIt is obvious, therefore, that we must regard the bishop as the Lord himself.â€

Ignatius

Ignatius, Bishop of ______

Antioch

Apostolic Fathers promoted Ante-Nicene Theology w/ 3 characteristics

1. Rigorist Christianity2. The increasing power of the Bishop.3. Eucharist becoming a sacrament of grace.

(200 A.D.)2. Developed Trinitarian concept: one substance, three persons--Praxeas, Sabellianism, Modalism3. Christians forgiven only one serious sin after baptism

Origen of Alexandria date and doctrines

(220 A.D.)1.Most prolific writer in the ancient world (800 works).4.Preexistence of souls.5.Universal salvation8.Subordination of Jesus

Cyprian date and doctrines

240 A.D1. â€œWithout the church as mother one cannot have God as father.â€ â€œOutside of the Church there is no salvation.â€

Who wrote Against the Christians and what date?

Porphyry (234-c.303)

Major Points of Against the Christians

c. Objected to faith above reasond. Jewish prophecies no more important than any other race.e. Incarnation-logical impossibilityf. Allegory could prove anything. g. Complained-prominent role of womenh. Apostasy from Greek tradition desires persecution.

began because

while emperors (Diocletian and Galerius) were engaged in sacrifice and divination, Christians made sign of cross to ward off demons

â€œin this conquerâ€He then replaced the pagan standards of his troops with a new Christian sign.

Constantine captures Rome date

312 AD

Edict of Milan

guaranted freedom of religious practice in lands under Constantine's rule.

Constantineâ€™s First Reforms

1. soldiers could attend church on Sundays 2- Bishops accompanied him wherever he went3. restoration Christian property 4. treasury used build churches5.elevate Christianity to privileged position 6.abolished crucifixion 7. divorce and remarriage more difficult8.Edict of Milan

who is Licinius?

Emperor of East ally w/ Constantine for ten yearsconquered by Constantine 324 when he began to persecute Christians

Speech to the Assembly of the Saints

Constantine confesses obligatin to convert empire

Constantineâ€™s Second Reforms

a.Christian exiles may return home.b.All property and wealth restored.c.All honors and seats of authority are returned.d.new churches to be built, Paid by imperial funds.e.Forbade consultation of new pagan oraclesf.Pagans allowed to keep temples & practice religion continued to subsidizeg.prohibited attacks on Christians (Porphyryâ€™s Against the Christians is to be burned.h.Sunday legal day of rest i.major Episcopal appointments under emperorâ€™s scrutiny. j.Bishops close advisors to Constantine furthering connection between church & state.

Arian proof text

Proverbs 8:22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old."

Arius famous quote

â€œThere was when the Son was not.â€

Arianism was a response to what other heresy

Modalism

Modalism

reduced Father, Son and Holy Spirit to three modes or aspects of God and implied patrpassianismâ€”the idea that the Father suffered on the cross.

homoiousios

affirm the more moderate assertion that the Logos was of a similar substance with the Father and fully united with the flesh of Jesus.

homoousios

Constantine himself proposed that the new creed include the affirmation that the Son is homoousiosâ€”one substanceâ€”with the Fatherâ€”that they share all the same essential attributes of deity

Confessions

Augustine's powerful and psychological look into personal conversion

Manichaeism, principles of

1. Dualistic 2. Matter is bad, Spirit is good. (Gnostic) 3. source of evil not Godâ€™s creation but misuse of human free will4.Christ was not born, never became a man, and never died.5.the object of the practice of religion was to release the particles of light6. To achieve this release, severe asceticism, including vegetarianism was practiced

Pelagianism

if God commands us to live right, then we have the ability to do it.a. Denied Original Sin and depravityb. Our disadvantage is living in a sinful world.c. More likely to acquire sinful habits. The problem is social, not inherent within us.d. Thus, we are able to live perfect lives by the right exercise of our wills.

Augustine's major contribution to doctrine

original sin.

major elements original sin.

a. Depravedb. Incapable of doing good without supernatural helpc. Godâ€™s commands are there to show us our inability.d. So that we see our need for Godâ€™s grace and mercy.

Donatist

any Bishop who had compromised with paganism during the last great persecution (Diocletian) did not have the purity to consecrate other church leaders

compromised bishop opposed by Donatists

Felix

â€œWhat has the Emperor to do with the Church?â€

Bishop Donatus

Augustineâ€™s arguments for use of force against Donatists

a.Romans 13:1-7-Government has the right to crush heresies and schismaticsb.Matt. 13:24-30if you know who the â€œtaresâ€ are you can uproot themc.Luke 14: 21-23-The great feast. â€œCompel them to come in.â€e. most famous statement, â€œThere is an unjust persecution which the wicked inflict on the Church of Christ, and a just persecution which the Church of Christ inflicts on the wicked.â€

Augustine was bishop of

Hippo

Augustine dates

354-430

Adeodatus

Augustine's son

Sin consists, as a matter of course, only in the separate acts of the will. There is no thing as a sinful character or a sinful nature. Otherwise, sin would not be sinâ€”not something which can be avoided; and God could not charge sin to our account as g

Pelagianism

God has commanded man to do that which is good; he must, therefore, have the ability to do it. That is to say, man is free, it is possible for him to decide for or against that which is good.

Pelagianism

â€œI say that man is able to be without sinâ€¦but I do not say that man is without sin.â€

Pelagianism

1.posse non peccare2.posse peccare3.non posse peccare

1.power not to sin2.power to sin3.unable to sin

Augustineâ€™s doctrine of grace

Grace, as being irresistible, is characterized by Augustine as predestinating grace Grace heals and restores the free will, so that it is able to freely choose the good.

Cassian

Semi-Pelagianism or Semi-Augustinians.The idea of Cassian is, that the human will has indeed been crippled by sin, but that a certain freedom has yet remained to it. Hence the sinner is not dead, but wounded.

Semi-Pelagianism or Semi-Augustinians principles

that we are unable to do anything good without the help of God, and that the freedom of the will must be preserved. From this it follows that grace and free will cooperate

Catholic conclusion to Augustinev Pelagianism

â€œgrace aloneâ€ came off victorious; but the Augustinian doctrine of predestination was abandoned.